Major African regional blocs, the SADC and EAC, have jointly appointed former leaders to mediate the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
- Former African leaders, Kenyatta, Obasanjo, and Desalegn appointed to mediate conflict in eastern DRC
- Appointment follows an extraordinary summit of EAC and SADC heads of state in Dar es Salaam
- M23 rebels have captured key locations and conflict has led to over 7,000 deaths this year
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn have been tasked with facilitating the regional peace process in the DRC
They were appointed by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) as facilitators of the regional peace process in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Their appointment follows an extraordinary summit of EAC and SADC heads of state held earlier this month in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to address the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where M23 rebels continue to battle government forces.
Since December, the rebels have expanded their territorial control, capturing key locations such as Goma and Bukavu.
Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka reported to the UN Human Rights Council that the conflict has led to more than 7,000 deaths this year alone.
SADC and EAC’s joint initiative seeks to harmonize regional peace efforts amid ongoing military interventions, including the presence of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC).
The appointed facilitators are expected to lead high-level negotiations between the Congolese government, armed groups, and regional stakeholders to foster stability and prevent further escalation of violence.
Diplomatic efforts will continue with a Joint Ministerial Meeting slated for February 28, where the final terms of the ceasefire are expected to be finalized.
Summit deliberations
Both the EAC and SADC have previously implemented a multi-pronged approach to de-escalate the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in the conflict-ridden eastern region.
The recent Joint Summit held in Tanzania reviewed the report of the joint meeting of EAC and SADC ministers on the security situation in eastern DRC and emphasized that political and diplomatic engagement remains the most sustainable solution to the conflict.
As part of the negotiations and deliberations, the Joint Summit reaffirmed the critical role of both the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes and resolved to merge them into a unified Luanda/Nairobi Process.
To strengthen these efforts and enhance complementarity, the summit mandated the co-chairs, in consultation with the African Union, to appoint additional facilitators, including representatives from other regions of Africa, to support the merged process.
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The Joint Summit further directed the resumption of direct negotiations and dialogue with all relevant parties, including both state and non-state actors—military and non-military—such as the M23 rebels.
These negotiations will take place within the framework of the Luanda/Nairobi Process, reaffirming the commitment to a comprehensive and inclusive approach to achieving lasting peace in eastern DRC.
